Peter Pan Imagines

Remember Me Part 13

Nicole POV:
A golden light poured over me. It was warm, so terribly warm, as if a thousand blankets had been wrapped around my freezing body. I opened my eyes slowly -- I was back home again.

The familiar rosewood smell of my bedroom quickly filled my lungs as I took a satisfied breath. In the hall, I could hear the grandfather clock merrily ticking along while the muffled street traffic whirred by outside my window. I couldn't believe it, I was really home.

As I sat up in bed, I felt a sharp pain run through my head. My hands felt around the top of my forehead and it was then that I noticed that a bundle of bandages had been wrapped tightly around it and a metal pin secured them in place. I don't remember hitting my head, but there must have been a good reason for such a dressing. Actually, come to think of it, I really couldn't remember much. It felt like I had been sleeping for ages, weeks even, but I knew that couldn't be true. Still, there was something I was forgetting and I knew it -- it would come to me in due time, it had to, right?

Something about sand and sea and bronze... no that couldn't be it.

I got changed and headed downstairs. Just like normal, the breakfast table had been set with a bouquet of lillies at the center. Now there were three plates set out rather than just mine. I suppose we were having company today.

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As I entered the room, I heard low voices coming from the parlor. The bandages were still wrapped around my head and I was admittedly a little embarrassed of them. Instead of entering, I pressed my ear to the door to see who we were entertaining today.

"Would you care for some more tea Master Peregrine?" Mr. Walters offered.

"No, no, that's alright. I've had quite enough." Michael replied. "Now please tell me again: what happened to Nicole yesterday?"

"Well, as you know she's been suffering from strange delusions, but they've only become worse lately."

"Worse?" Tiger Lily replied. "I thought the doctor was coming to see her more often now."

"Yes he was. Every day for the last six weeks." Mr. Walters sighed. "Unfortunately Nicole became slightly emphatic yesterday and insisted on walking through the town square. It was the constable who found her beside the fountain, unconscious but still mumbling about magic beans." He paused, his voice beginning to crack. "I really shouldn't have let her go, I deeply apologize."

Michael exhaled sharply. "Deeply apologize? She cracked her head on a brick! Was there no one watching her?"

I cracked my head on a brick? I leaned away from the door and again felt the back of my head. As I neared the crown of my skull, I almost screamed in pain. I covered my mouth desperately, trying to keep quiet.

"Michael, please you need to calm down."

"She nearly killed herself yesterday. How am I supposed to be calm about this? We need to bring in more doctors, have more treatments... More..."

"It will be alright, Michael. She's still alive."

"I know."

"Mr. Walters, thank you for taking care of her this long, really." Tiger Lily replied. "You've done an excellent job watching over her but I think my husband and I will take it from here."

"An excellent job?" Michael snapped. "She was roaming the streets on her own to track down a murder that didn't happen!"

"Michael, please."

"My father wasn't murdered or taken away. He died from pneumonia after a drunken night out! That's what the official report said. I can't believe you let her entertain these fairytales again!"